Coaster device



E. H. EICHLER June 8, 1965 COASTER DEVICE Filed Nov. 20, 1963 INVENTOR. (5M '416W gm V/ JM ;Www

United States Patent O 3,188,040 COASTER DEVICE Edwin H. Eichler, 910 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Ill. VFiled Nov. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 324,985

2 Clairns. (Cl. 248-3461) This invention relates to a coaster or similar device for supporting containers such as glasses containing beverages, and it is an `object of the invention to provide an improved device of this character.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved coasterof the Character indicated in ycombination With a game or other amusement device. i

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved coaster of the Character indicated wherein a beverage container is unable to slide off of the coaster.

It is arfurther object of the invention to provide an improved coaster 'of theV `Character indicated wherein adherence of the beverage container bottom surface to the coaster is substantially eliminated.

Coasters for holding beverage containers such as glasses are well known in various forms and configurations, but

most, if not all, of such prior devices have been subject e I to the failing that the beverage container would tend to slip off of the coaster or, the beverage container would adhere to the coaster when the beverage container was being lifted from it, thereby causing inconvenience or messiness. Moreover, such prior coasters or the like devices, have had a single function rather than a dual function. They have not included in combination a game device which the user of the coaster may manipulate for amuseinent of himself alone or in Cooperation with others, and it is a further object of the invention to provide a coaster or similar device obviating these and other deficiencies of prior devices.

The invention may be briefiy described as comprising a coaster made up of a hollow member having a lower surface and an upper surface of which the lower surface is adapted to rest on a flat surface, such as a table, and the upper surface is adapted to have a beverage container received thereon, and a game device functioning interiorly of the container with the saidV upper surface being relatively transparent for viewing of the game therethrough.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds and a more complete understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 'represents a plan view of a coaster or similar device embodying the invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lines 2-2 of PIG. 1 with a component added for illustrative purposes only.

Referring more particularly tothe drawings, the invention is shown embodied in a coaster 10, including a hollow member 11 having an upper surface 12 and a lower surface 13. The upper and lower surfaces 12 and 13 are joined by a side wall 14, for completing the hollow container.

The upper surface 12 and side wall 14 may be formed of clear material such, for example, as any of the various moldable plastic materials, and may be formed as a unitary structure. The bottom surface 13 may be of similar material to that of the upper surface and side wall 14, for example, or it may be formed of metal, paper or other suitable materials, and joined to the side wall 14by means' of a rim 15 interiorly of and crimped over the lower edge of the side wall 14, as shown at 16, for example. Other suitable methods of joining two surfaces together may, of course, be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

lfid Patented June 8, ,1965

ICC

Disposed on the lower surface 13 there is a further surface 17 upon which is disposed a suitable game design, for example, a teddy bear design 18, as seen best in FIG. l. The teddy bear design may have formed on various portions of its body, small, semispherical or otherwise shaped holes or depressions 19 into which may be received small steel balls, or the like, 21. l,By appropriate manipulation of the coaster 10, the steel balls 21 may be worked into the depressions 19.

As one form of game, a person getting all the balls into the depressions in the shortest interval of time, would be the Winner. i

While a teddy bear design has beenshown, this is by way of example only, and it will be evident that other designs as desired, may be used. Similarly, other forms of games may be utilized, for example, one or more dice may be disposed interiorly of container 11. The surface 17 upon which the design is disposed, as illustrated, may be eliminated, and the design formed directly upon the bottom surface 13.

An annular lip or rim 22 is formed projecting upwardly of the upper surface 12 at the periphery thereof and may form an extension of the wall 14. The space interiorly of the rim 22 forms a depr'ession within which a beverage glass 23 is received and Will be prevented by the rim from sliding off of the coaster.

Also formed upwardly of the surface 12 is a series of equidistantly spaced 'bosses 24, four being shown by way of example, upon which the container 23 actually rests. The upper surfaces of the bosses 24 define a surface which with the upper surface 12 creates an air space 25 beneath the lower surface of the container 23. In this manner, only a small surface of contact exists between the upper portion of the coaster and the bottom surface of the container 23. Accordingly, the container 23 is only slightly adherent to the coaster, and thus, when lifted off, it does not tend to drag the coaster with it. In this manner, a high degree of fastidiousness is obtained.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and it is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention having thus been described, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A coaster comprising a hollow member having a lower surface, an upper surface and an outer surface connecting said lower'and upper surfaces, said lower surface being adapted to rest on a flat surface and said upper surface being substantially spaced from said lower surface, said upper and said lower surfaces forming closures for the space within said outer surface, a raised rim portion at the periphery of said upper surface and being an integral part of said upper surface and said outer surface, protuberances integral with said upper surface and extending upwardly therefrom for receiving a container thereon, a game device functioning interiorly of said member, and said upper surface and said outer surface being relatively transparent for permittng viewing of said game therethrough. i

2. A coaster comprsing a hollow member having a lower surfa-ce, an upper surface and an outer surface connecting said lower and upper surfaces, said lower surface being adapted to rest on a fiat surface and said upper surface being substantially spaced from said lower surface, said upper and lower surfaces forming closures for the space within said outer surface, a game surface disposed References Ce by the Examiner UNITED STATES PAT ENTS Priestnall 215-100.5

Merriman 248 346.1

Fleming 273-113 Rosenthal et al 40-70 McGrew 248- 346-1 Rogers 273-113 10 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examner. 

1. A COASTER COMPRISING A HOLLOW MEMBER HAVING A LOWER SURFACE, AN UPPER SURFACE AND AN OUTER SURFACE CONNECTING SAID LOWER AND UPPER SURFACES, SAID LOWER SURFACE BEING ADAPTED TO REST ON A FLAT SURFACE AND SAID UPPER SURFACE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SPACED FROM SAID LOWER SURFACE, SAID UPPER AND SAID LOWER SURFACES FORMING CLOSURES FOR THE SPACE WITHIN SAID OUTER SURFACE, A RAISED RIM PORTION AT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID UPPER SURFACE AND BEING AN INTEGRAL PART OF SAID UPPER SURFACE AND SAID OUTER SURFACE, PROTUBERANCES INTEGRAL WITH SAID UPPER SURFACE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM FOR RECEVING A CONTAINER THEREON, A GAME DEVICE FUNCTIONING INTERIORLY OF SAID MEMBER, AND SAID UPPER SURFACE AND SAID OUTER SURFACE BEING RELATIVELY TRANSPARENT FOR PERMITTING VIEWING OF SAID GAME THERETHROUGH. 